I then loaded this 3DS model into 3D Studio MAX, where I zoomed and panned to various positions in the 3D scene and defined these positions as camera viewpoints. I then exported the model in VRML97 format. I then double-clicked the resulting WRL file to test the results in my Web browser, on which I had previously installed ParallelGraphics' Cortona.
Viewpoints can be modified or even created by hand quite easily, by simply editing the WRL file in a text editor such as WordPad. Here, for example, is a sample viewpoint definition.
DEF Front_Door Viewpoint {
position 669 -2.93 172
orientation 0.128 0.987 -0.0997 -4.94
fieldOfView 0.602
description "Front Door"
}
One could insert several such definitions into a WRL file without previously defined viewpoints to create a "scenic tour." The position vectors indicate positions in 3-D space; the orientation values are nominally zeroes for a level view. The Field Of view parameter will produce a distorted "fish eye" (ultra wide angle) view if the number id greater than 1.0; values approaching zero cause the camera to zoom in to a narrow field of view.
The description is the text that is visible in the list of viewpoints available by right-clicking on the VRML image in Cortona.
Post new comment